Description
Cheesy Meatball Pasta Bake is a comforting dish that combines tender pasta, juicy meatballs, and gooey melted cheese into a delightful casserole. With its irresistible aroma filling your kitchen, this recipe is perfect for cozy family gatherings or busy weeknights. Easy to prepare and customize, it’s a crowd-pleaser that guarantees seconds!
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a bowl, mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and parsley. Form into golf-ball-sized meatballs.
- Brown meatballs in a skillet with olive oil over medium heat for about 8 minutes.
- Cook penne according to package instructions; drain and toss with olive oil.
- In a baking dish, combine cooked pasta with marinara sauce and half of the mozzarella cheese. Gently fold in meatballs.
- Top with remaining mozzarella cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of the dish (approximately 350g)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 90mg